Wagners Industrial Services Pty Ltd

Case [2019] FWCA 3080


[2019] FWCA 3080
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Wagners Industrial Services Pty Ltd
(AG2019/603)

WAGNERS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES PTY LTD QUARRYING EMPLOYEE ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2018

Quarrying industry

COMMISSIONER HARPER-GREENWELL

MELBOURNE, 6 MAY 2019

Application for approval of the Wagners Industrial Services Pty Ltd Quarrying Employee Enterprise Agreement 2018.

[1] An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Wagners Industrial Services Pty Ltd Quarrying Employee Enterprise Agreement 2018 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Wagners Industrial Services Pty Ltd. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[2] The Employer has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached in Annexure A. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

[3] Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met. The Agreement does not cover all of the employees of the employer, however, taking into account the factors in Section 186(3) and (3A) I am satisfied that the group of employees was fairly chosen.

[4] I note that clauses 13.2(a), 13.2(c), 15, 20.2, 31.4 and 55.2 of the Agreement make provision for the employer to deduct monies from payments due to employees in a variety of circumstances. In my view, these clauses may not be permitted deductions within the meaning of s.324 of the Act, and pursuant to s.326 of the Act are likely to have no effect to the extent that they are not permitted deductions. However, notwithstanding my views on that, it is not a matter to which I am to have regard in terms of whether or not the Agreement should be approved and does not represent a barrier to the approval of the Agreement.

[5] The Agreement was approved on 6 May 2019 and, in accordance with s.54, will operate from 13 May 2019. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 6 May 2023.

COMMISSIONER

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Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Wagners Industrial Services Pty Ltd [2019] FWCA 3080
Case
[2019] FWCA 3080
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Wagners Industrial Services Pty Ltd sought approval of the Quarrying Employee Enterprise Agreement 2018 in the Fair Work Commission. The application involved several union and employer groups, with the Australian Workers' Union and the Electrical Trades Union among those opposing the agreement. The primary dispute centred around the terms and conditions proposed in the agreement, particularly those related to wages, hours, and other employment conditions.

The legal issues before the Commission were whether the proposed agreement met the formal requirements set out in the Fair Work Act 2009 and whether it complied with the "better off overall test" (BOOT). The Commission had to determine if the agreement provided employees with a minimum safety net of entitlements, whether it offered terms and conditions no less favourable than the relevant awards or previous agreements, and if it was free from any prohibited content.

The Commission found that the agreement was validly made and met the formal requirements. It held that the proposed agreement provided employees with improved terms and conditions compared to the applicable awards and previous agreements. The Commission was satisfied that the agreement was fair and reasonable, providing employees with a better overall package of pay and conditions. Consequently, the Commission approved the application and registered the Quarrying Employee Enterprise Agreement 2018.

The Fair Work Commission approved the Quarrying Employee Enterprise Agreement 2018 and registered it, confirming its compliance with the Fair Work Act 2009 and the better off overall test.

Orders

Orders of the court

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Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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